Solid construction, accurate, light trigger-pull, easy to cock, fun to shoot! That's just about everything you could ever want in an air pistol. The Beeman P3 is a single-stroke pneumatic, which means it requires just one cocking stroke of the overlever. Because it doesn't have a mainspring, the P3 can also be dry-fired. If you want to increase your accuracy and trigger control, dry-firing can help you do that.Unlike many production pistols, the P3 is made of quality materials. Manufactured by the legendary Weihrauch factory in Germany, this air pistol has a rifled steel barrel. In fact, all critical mechanisms are made of ordnance steel, while the exterior shell is made of tough, durable polymers.Whether you shoot right-handed, left-handed, single-handed or two-handed, the Beeman P3 can accommodate you! The ambidextrous design and the functionality of the cocking mechanism are convenient no matter what style of shooting you enjoy.Accuracy is 0.20 center-to-center. You won't find too many pistols in this price range that can brag about that kind of accuracy! The P3 is perfect for 10-meter target shooting, but you'll end up doing a lot more with the gun. Plinking, shooting spinners, and popping tin cans are loads of fun, and the P3 is up to the challenge!... Accurate, easy to cock, fun to shoot, TruGlo front sight, truly ambidextrous....
The P3 is made in Germany and is marketed by Beeman. It is an excellent air pistol. Beeman also markets (through its other company, Marksman) the Marksman 2004. It is made in China and is an exact copy of the P3 at about 1/3 the price of the P3. It also is excellent. I must assume the P3 is a slight notch above the 2004 model due to it cost. But check out the "Marksman 2004" model before you make a final decision.
BTW. This is not a small pistol it is very large single shot air gun. It is hard to load, but nice to shoot. You open the top and load the pellet into the end of the barrel then push down hard to pump the piston. No C02 is required. One pump per shot.
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I've had a Beeman P-3 for several years. I bought mine when they were first out on the market. I have shot thousands of pellets through this pistol and continue to do so. I shoot mine in the garage several times a week. Accuracy is superb. When I first shot in a ten meter air pistol match, I didn't own a match grade air pistol, they cost thousands of dollars. I took my beeman P-3. I didn't win, but I didn't look foolish either. This gun is very well designed, well made, requires little maintenance and has a great trigger. I don't know about the P-17. Some internet comments talk about leaks developing quite early. I am sure you can't go wrong with the German made P-3. I wish it were a little heavier, but otherwise it is close to perfect.
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I got the P17 first. It was supposed to be just like the P3, except much cheaper. I guess the P17 was OK, but it broke almost immediately. I got my refund from Pyramid Air.
So I ordered the P3 with some hesitation. But after about 300 shots, I love this pistol. It is incredibly accurate (with the second shot going through the hole made by the first one at 10 feet). The fiber optic sights are fantastic to use. The trigger feels great and is very light. The plastics on the gun feel solid and shooting it feels good. It has good balance, unlike the longer barrels from other air pistols. The only thing I would change is how much force it takes to pump the pistol (still easier than the P17).
I shoot more accurately with this pistol using its standard sights than with an air rifle using a red dot site. It's worth the extra money.
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